Yieldable gear-wheel.



'PATENTED JUNE 7, 1904'.

' a J. A. BROWN.

YIELDABLE GEAR WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 24, 1903.

no MODEL.

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Patented'iune '7, 1904.

JAMESA. BROWN, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

YIELDABLE GEAR-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,943, dated June '7, 1904. Application filed November 24, 1903. fierial No. 182,517. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Yieldable Gear-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to a yieldable gear-wheel, especially a sprocket-Wheel,

in which an annular wheel is clamped between two plates on the shaft, the wheel having friction engagement with the plates, so that in case of sudden starting or stopping of the machine or excessive load the wheel will yield and prevent snapping of the chain or other belt.

The construction is characterized by simplicity and by simple meansto vary the friction-pressure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure'l is a side view of the wheel. Fig. 2 is an. edge View. Fig. 3 is a central cross-section, and Fig. 4 is a similar section 7 applied on the end of an axle.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 in dicates an annular sprocket-wheel loose upon a hub 7, formed on the inner side of a clamping-disk 8, which is fast on the shaft 9. This disk is located on one side of the wheel. On the other side of the wheel is a corresponding disk 10, which, however, is loose on the shaft 9 and also has no hub. Between the clamping-disks and the wheel are friction-disks 11, preferably formed of leather or similar material, and these are held in projecting rims 12 at the ing-disks.

' The disks are clamped together and the degree of pressure varied by a plurality of bolts 13, which extend through the clamping-disks and the eye of the sprocket-wheel.

The disks are out of contactthat is, they do not meet at the hub. Conseq uently a space is left which permits them to be adjusted with respect to each other to vary the frictionplace by inwardlyedge of the clamppressure and to take up wear of the frictiondisks.

In the modification shown in Fig. 4 instead of a modification of the through-shaft, as shown at 9, an axle, such as a bicycle-axle, is indicated at 9, and

I are screwed upon the the hub 7 and disk 8 threaded end 9 of the axle, and in this use the disk 10 is unperforated, so that it forms'a cap to cover the end of the axle. If necessary or desirable, the leather friction-disks 11 versa, under ordinary load; but in case of sudden starting or stopping or excessive load the sprocket-wheel will slip around between the disks and no motion, or only gradually increased or decreased motion, will be transmitted. The device will be found particularly useful in automobile and similar constructions where the variations in load are sudden and great. 7

Various other modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the in- "Vention, which is not limited except as indicated in the following claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a shaft, and a pair of disks thereon having inwardly-projecting rims, one disk having a hub, a gear-wheel loose on the hub between the d1sks, fr1ction pieces between the disks and the wheel, retained by the rims, and clamping-screws extending through the disks and the eye of the wlieehadjustable to vary the friction-pressure.

2. The combination with a shaft, of a disk fast upon the end thereof, another disk covering the end of the shaft, a gear-wheel held in frictional contact between the disks, and

means to adjustably clamp the disks together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnessesg JAMES A. BROWN.

Witnesses: I

. SIeNA FELTSKOG,

H. G. BATCHELQR. 

